July 2011
Visa
Free on entry for UK citizens
ENTRY
Entry point (from Mozambique): Chiponde at GPS: immigration & customs, at GPS: S 14.369437, E 35.618277
Time taken: 15 minutes
Costs
None
Money change
None needed at border
Process
Straightforward. Red (rear) and white (front) reflective strips needed for car.
EXIT
Exit point (into Zambia): Mchinji at GPS: S 13.752454, E 32.796815. Process straightforward
Costs
None
Money
International Visa ATMs at Standard Bank, Barclays (using official rates). Street money changers offer up to 15% better rates.
Fuel
with exchange rate at MWK 150 = 1 USD
Offically set at
Diesel MWK 260/litre ($1.73), Petrol MWK 290/litre ($1.93)
This is fairly theoretical as fuel availability is very patchy, and even the official exchange rate used above is of limited relevance as there is now a black market of up to MWK 180 for 1 USD
Camping
Lilongwe: Steve Roberts (+256 999 204 305) has camping at his house with workshop facilities. GPS: S 13.959777, E 33.767063
Car workshops
Costantini Brothers, Lilongwe: GPS: S 13.982807, E 33.769033. Run by Vincenzo. Tel: +256 1 754 126. Not to be confused with nearby Costantini & Co.
Communications
TNM has unreliable coverage, especially for internet. Lilongwe is particularly poor for internet. Settings are:
APN: internet
username: <leave blank>
password: <leave blank>
Airtel is much better, and has the same internet settings as above, but needs activation by calling customer care on 111. Daily 20MB (+20MB bonus) bundle costs MWK 80.
There is also a wi-fi cloud service (SkyBand) in the main cities and hotels. Very expensive compared to mobile broadband from airtel/TNM, at MWK 700 for 50MB valid for 14 days.
Useful GPS
Roads
July 2011
Visa
Free on entry for UK citizens
ENTRY
Entry point (from Mozambique): Chiponde at GPS: immigration & customs, at GPS: S 14.369437, E 35.618277
Time taken: 15 minutes
Costs
None
Money change
None needed at border
Process
Straightforward. Red (rear) and white (front) reflective strips needed for car.
EXIT
Exit point (into Zambia): Mchinji at GPS: S 13.752454, E 32.796815. Process straightforward
Costs
None
Money
International Visa ATMs at Standard Bank, Barclays (using official rates). Street money changers offer up to 15% better rates.
Fuel
with exchange rate at MWK 150 = 1 USD
Offically set at
Diesel MWK 260/litre ($1.73), Petrol MWK 290/litre ($1.93)
This is fairly theoretical as fuel availability is very patchy, and even the official exchange rate used above is of limited relevance as there is now a black market of up to MWK 180 for 1 USD
Camping
Lilongwe: Steve Roberts (+256 999 204 305) has camping at his house with workshop facilities. GPS: S 13.959777, E 33.767063
Car workshops
Costantini Brothers, Lilongwe: GPS: S 13.982807, E 33.769033. Run by Vincenzo. Tel: +256 1 754 126. Not to be confused with nearby Costantini & Co.
Communications
TNM has unreliable coverage, especially for internet. Lilongwe is particularly poor for internet. Settings are:
APN: internet
username: <leave blank>
password: <leave blank>
Airtel is much better, and has the same internet settings as above, but needs activation by calling customer care on 111. Daily 20MB (+20MB bonus) bundle costs MWK 80.
There is also a wi-fi cloud service (SkyBand) in the main cities and hotels. Very expensive compared to mobile broadband from airtel/TNM, at MWK 700 for 50MB valid for 14 days.
Useful GPS
Roads